From attendance and social media interactions to streaming and television viewership, the WNBA is experiencing a meteoric rise.
Recent numbers released by the WNBA last week show the unprecedented growth that has already occurred since the league’s announcement in mid-May. This is the highest opening month in 26 years and the most watched season opener ever among all network partners.
I know what you’re thinking. Caitlin Clark. She’s the only reason for the dramatic increase in numbers across the board, right? All the attention and attention from the media? Any new fans? Merchandise sales?
“Our league is getting more media attention than ever, but it’s also an evolving media landscape. Fans can access games in more ways than ever before. Then you have the high quality of play on the court, from our veterans to today’s stars and then the next generation that we see in this new class,” said WNBA Chief Growth Officer Colie Edison. . “They are extraordinary athletes who bring their NCAA fans to the WNBA. And that’s really what we were preparing for, what we were expecting and what we’re so happy to see.
The WNBA has been desperately trying to bridge the gap between NCAA fans and the WNBA for many years now, and NIL has changed that. Although Clark has attracted the lion’s share of new fans and media attention to the WNBA, she’s not the only one. The entire rookie class played a huge role.
Let’s take a look at the numbers.
Clark’s greatest impact was on television ratings and attendance. there is no doubt. The 2024 WNBA Opening Night between the Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun averaged 2.12 million viewers across ESPN2, ESPN+ and Disney+, peaking at 2.34 million viewers, making it the game Most watched WNBA on Disney platforms of all time. Less than a week later, the two teams met again. The rematch averaged 1.56 million viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game on ESPN in league history.
Every game Indiana has played on national television so far this season has drawn large numbers of viewers. When it comes to attendance, the Fever is shattering franchise records left and right, surpassing last season’s total attendance (in 20 games) just five home games into the regular season. Sellouts at Gainbridge Fieldhouse have become the norm and Indiana has set the bar for average attendance so far this season with 16,683 fans per game.
These are the numbers that make the headlines, as they should. But here are some more intriguing numbers that haven’t gotten as much attention:
- ION, in only its second year of broadcasting WNBA games, saw its viewership increase 51% during the 2023 season. (Indiana was not included in the opening night roster .)
- Throughout the first week of the WNBA season, four of the five moments that generated the most engagement on social media featured Clark, Angel Reese of Chicago Sky, Cameron Brink of Los Angeles Sparks and Kate Martin of Las Vegas Aces.
- WNBA merchandise sales increased 236 percent, with Clark, Reese and Brink ranking in the top five for jersey sales during the first week of the season.
- WNBA app monthly active users increased 613% and League Pass subscriptions more than tripled in the first two weeks of the season, with the highest average minutes watched in history of the league.
- Across the league, WNBA arenas were filled to 94 percent capacity, up 17 percent from last year.
- WNBA Countdown on ABC and ESPN2 averaged 741,000 viewers, up 211 percent.
- On CBS, in the network’s season opener, the New York Liberty took on the Minnesota Lynx (May 25) and averaged 704,000 viewers, making it the most-watched WNBA game on CBS of all the temperature.
- The WNBA’s social media channels garnered 157 million video views in the first week of the season, an increase of 380%.
- The Las Vegas Aces have sold out 19 of 20 home games this season. The Dallas Wings and Atlanta Dream sold out before the season even started.
“Measurements at every level tell the story and that’s what we’ve been saying all along,” says Colie Edison. “The demand is there, the product is the best it’s ever been and the fans love the WNBA.”
CBS recently announced that last weekend’s game between The Fever and The Sky attracted 2.25 million viewers (peaking at 3 million), making it the most-watched WNBA game on any network since 23 years. The budding rivalry between Clark and Reese has not only become a talking point in sports media, it’s also a staple of television. The combination of established talent, brands and player platforms and a highly physical and competitive league has been the perfect mix to attract increased attention.
In short, Clark, the 2024 rookie class, veteran star players and the league as a whole all deserve credit. The dynamic has been building for years.
“This is my third season in the league and our phone has been ringing off the hook from the NCAA Final Four all the way to the WNBA Draft. Every day I feature companies that want to align with the WNBA. They believe in what we do and see the power of investing in women. Ultimately, they know they will get a return on their investment.
Edison believes that not only has the WNBA been waiting for this moment, but the league has been diligently preparing by putting the infrastructure in place and preparing for future growth with the influx of talent and big stars like Paige Bueckers and JuJu Watkins . from the ranks of the college.
Although it is a compressed season due to the upcoming Olympic break, the sprint to the playoffs and eventual WNBA championship should continue to bring in strong numbers even if Clark and Indiana do not participate in the playoffs.
